Free Address or Your Own Domain? When a Small Business Should Upgrade
Every Webmarlin plan comes with a free yourname.wbmr.in address. Here's when that's enough, when it isn't, and what getting your own domain actually involves.
Every Webmarlin site, including sites on the free Starter plan, publishes on a free address: yourname.wbmr.in. For a lot of businesses that's a perfectly good place to start. But there's a point where your own domain earns its keep. Here's how to tell where you are.
When the free address is enough
- You're testing the idea. Not sure the business will stick? Publish free, see if people use the site, decide later.
- Nobody types your address. If customers reach you from social links, a QR code on the counter, or a link in your bio, the address itself rarely matters.
- You're still building. Get the pages right first. The domain takes a minute when you're ready.
When it's time for your own domain
- You're printing it. Business cards, van decals, shop signage. A short, memorable address that's fully yours belongs on anything physical.
- You're saying it out loud. "Find us at northsidebakery dot com" lands. Anything longer doesn't.
- You want email to match. A domain you own is the first step towards an address like hello@yourbusiness.com.
- You're building trust with strangers. For people who found you by search rather than referral, a real domain reads as a real business.
What it costs on Webmarlin
Custom domains are part of the Pro plan ($19.99/mo or $222.99/yr, up to 3 domains) and the Max plan ($29.99/mo or $333.99/yr, up to 5 domains). The domain itself is bought separately, inside Webmarlin, at the price shown when you search for it. Starter and Basic stay on the free wbmr.in address.
What the setup involves
Less than you'd think. Search for the name inside your Webmarlin dashboard, pay for it, and publish. DNS and SSL are configured automatically. There are no records to copy between control panels and no registrar account to manage on the side. Before the domain comes up for renewal, Webmarlin emails you so it doesn't lapse by accident.
A sensible order of operations
- Build and publish on the free address.
- Once the site says what you want, upgrade to Pro.
- Search for your domain, buy it, publish again.
- Update your cards, signage and social bios.
Your free wbmr.in address keeps working alongside the new domain, so nothing you've already shared breaks.
